Georgia Impact Fastpitch Organization:
The Georgia Impact - Taylor 08 team was formed by Head Coach Kip Taylor in the Summer of 2019. This very talented team is comprised entirely of 2008 birth year athletes and is mid-way into their third year with the Georgia Impact Organization. They have already proved they are one of the best teams in their age group in the entire country. It took a full season to build this roster (which is a constant work in progress) but Coach Taylor and his coaching staff challenged them to a very tough schedule their first year playing against many 2007 teams and pushing his girls to play against top level competition.
They finished 40-27-1 that first year, took some lumps along the way but it forced his group to elevate their play against some of the best in their age group. That set them up for a successful run as a second year 12U team last season (2020-2021) and they added a few new faces that took their team to the next level. They ended up winning five tournaments last season, including one in the 14U division and finished runner-up in two others. They capped off their season placing 2nd at the Colorado Sparkler and 3rd at Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) Nationals in the Premier Division. Coach Taylor’s squad ended the year with a record of 80-23-1 including a 17-5 record playing “up” in the 14U division of three separate tournaments.
In the Fall they played in one true tournament, winning the championship at the Kentucky Chrome Invitational. They also participated in a Team Camp at the University of Oklahoma and played in two showcases; placing 2nd at the at the Florida Fastpitch Classic in Newberry, Florida in the Spring.
Most all elite teams are built around a stellar pitching staff and Coach Taylor’s group has just that. Addie Rackley, a 2026 from Northeast Atlanta/Buford, GA is the longest tenured pitcher on this staff and is one of the remaining original five players that Coach Taylor built this team around. She’s a legit two-way player who is an elite top prospect ranked nationally. She’s been a dominant strikeout pitcher for the past 2 years and has now added a consistent riseball to her arsenal and can throw to all four quadrants of the strike zone when needed. She’s consistently been one of their top power hitters as well with high offensive production numbers.
Addie Rackley
Jordan “Jo” Young was added mid-season last year from Alabama and like Rackley, she’s a proven two-way player who also hits in the middle of their lineup. Her bread and butter is working down in the zone when in the circle but she has a knee-buckling changeup that has rarely been hit hard and a solid curveball as well. She’s a line drive/power hitter and has exceptional speed on the base paths and overall athleticism when pitching and playing other positions when she’s not in the circle.
Jordan "Jo" Young
Finally, Coach Taylor added the spinster Braylee Spence out of Oklahoma this year to complete his staff, giving them three pitchers that can start and win any game they play—pool or bracket. She’s got one of the best “fluttering” risballs we’ve seen at this age group but also throws a drop-curve and a changeup to keep batters on their heels. She “picked up” twice with Coach Taylor’s team last year and was a big factor in their run to a 3rd place finish at PGF Nationals last summer.
Braylee Spence
Aside from the pitchers, his team is built on athleticism, speed, and versatility. Every girl on the team can play at least two positions and some split time at multiple spots. Shayla Bahr is a big time athlete who also plays travel basketball. She is their regular leadoff hitter and primarily plays centerfield and second base. She’s top two or three in speed on this team with the ability to beat out infield ground balls and stretch outfield singles into doubles. Defensively, couple that speed with anticipation in the outfield and they’ve got someone who covers a lot of ground and just makes plays.
Shayla Bahr
Summer Castorri is the Swiss army knife of this team. She’s one of their two primary catchers but is also a phenomenal third baseman, plays middle infield, outfield, and she’s also played some first base. She can literally play anywhere except pitcher which is a luxury for this coaching staff. Not to mention she’s a talented line drive and power hitter offensively for the team.
Summer Castorri
Janie Goldin is the other catcher for Impact Taylor who also plays in the outfield and she’s got truly elite speed that surprises every team they play. Her ability to beat out bunt and infield ground balls as well as steal bases directly equates to runs helping this team win games.
Janie Goldin
Nina Carcone is their primary shortstop who’s got silky smooth hands and mechanics, athleticism to cover ground when she’s stretched and a very strong and accurate arm to throw out runners.
Nina Carcone
Rizz White and Kadyn Gabrels also factor into the third base rotation and the coaching staff feels very confident in the both of them. White has seen plenty of time at shortstop and both Rizz and Kadyn can drive the ball gap to gap in the batters box.
Rizz White
Kadyn Gabrels
Jacely Hogan and Tavia Robinson are the two other primary outfielders and second basemen and both bring tremendous speed and softball IQ to the team.
Jacely Hogan
Tavia Robinson
Kate Hardy has pitched in the past for Taylor but focuses her time defensively at first base and in the outfield but gives this team yet another power hitter in the offensive lineup.
Kate Hardy
This is the second “go round” for Head Coach Kip Taylor who’s older daughter is now playing in college and he was on the coaching staff while she came through the travel softball circuit. He’s assisted by Derek Rackley who played college football at the University of Minnesota and eight years in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. He brings a unique perspective on teaching this team how to practice, train and compete at a high level and what it takes if you want to play with the best of the best. Assistant Coach Missy Hernandez is a former two-sport college athlete at Coker College who set numerous records during her time in the circle and also played Volleyball as a student-athlete. Rounding out the coaching staff is the nationally respected and lifelong baseball/softball guru Lincoln Martin who also assists Patrick Lewis with the 18U Premier Georgia Impact team. He’s worked with Team USA in the past and is also a top notch hitting and fielding instructor who has trained some of the best college athletes around the country.
Georgia Impact Taylor 08
Head Coach Kip Taylor
Email: impacttaylor08@gmail.com
Assistant Coaches: Derek Rackley, Missy Hernandez, Lincoln Martin
Graduation Classes: 2026/2027
Twitter: @Impact_Taylor08 Facebook: GA Impact 08 Taylor
Instagram: impacttaylor08
